Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Gilas Pilipinas versus Chinese Taipei the last time was a close shave for the Filipinos.
And with their return bout in the Fiba World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers on Friday to happen in Taipei, the Filipinos cannot afford to start the way they did last November when they barely scraped through.
Home court will undoubtedly make the Taiwanese a better team in their third window clash at Taipei Heping Gym, where the enemy is embraced like gods and where the Filipinos are expected to encounter hostility.
Gilas started out on a limp last November, trailing by 13 early and needing the heroics of Jayson Castro and reigning four-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo to get the job done.
Andray Blatche was a virtual non-entity offensively for Gilas, finishing with just six points.
It was also one of the reasons why the game was close as Chinese Taipei got three players scoring in twin digits, with naturalized player Quincy Davis III shooting 20 points—12 in the first period.
Blatche came in more than two weeks ago to reorient himself with coach Chot Reyes’ dribble-drive offense.
If he is in better shape, the Filipinos should have little trouble dispatching the Taiwanese anew.
Tickets have already been sold out, according to a report by Fiba.com while Taiwanese superstar Huang Tsung-Han has already declared victory.
“This is my house,” the 23-year-old Huang told Fiba.com. “In home games, the whole country will cheer for the players, and it will stimulate the players more.”
Terrence Romeo also returns to National team duty after sitting out the November game because of a leg injury.
Meanwhile, Ricky Dandan resigned as coach of Columbian in the PBA, saying that he will now concentrate with University of the Philippines.